Extra-vehicular communication device, onboard device, onboard communication system, communication control method, and communication control program

ABSTRACT

Provided is an extra-vehicular communication device, installed on a vehicle, including: a reception unit configured to receive data from an external device located outside the vehicle; a position acquisition unit configured to create, based on the data received by the reception unit, transmission source position information indicating a position of a transmission source of the data; a correspondence information acquisition unit configured to acquire correspondence information that indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral position information indicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level; a setting unit configured to set a priority level for the data, on the basis of the transmission source position information created by the position acquisition unit and the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit; and a processing unit configured to process the data in accordance with the priority level set by the setting unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an extra-vehicular communicationdevice, an on-vehicle device, an on-vehicle communication system, acommunication control method, and a communication control program.

This application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No.2017-26932 filed on Feb. 16, 2017, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2013-168865) discloses an on-vehicle network system as follows. That is,the on-vehicle network system includes: an on-vehicle control unithaving a memory that stores therein definition data defining a part, ofprotocol used in an on-vehicle network, which depends on implementationon the on-vehicle network; and a protocol issuing device that issues thedefinition data to the on-vehicle control unit. When the protocolissuing device receives, from a registration device that allows theon-vehicle control unit to participate in the on-vehicle network, aregistration request that requests participation of the on-vehiclecontrol unit in the on-vehicle network, the protocol issuing deviceperforms authentication for the registration device, creates thedefinition data based on implementation on the on-vehicle network, andreturns the definition data to the registration device. The registrationdevice receives the definition data transmitted from the protocolissuing device, and requests the on-vehicle control unit to store thereceived definition data in the memory. Then, the on-vehicle controlunit receives the definition data from the registration device, storesthe definition data in the memory, and performs communication by usingthe on-vehicle network, based on the part, of the protocol, defined bythe definition data.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PATENT LITERATURE 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2013-168865

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

(1) An extra-vehicular communication device according to the presentdisclosure is an extra-vehicular communication device installed on avehicle, and includes: a reception unit configured to receive data froman external device located outside the vehicle; a position acquisitionunit configured to create, based on the data received by the receptionunit, transmission source position information indicating a position ofa transmission source of the data; a correspondence informationacquisition unit configured to acquire correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; a setting unit configured to set apriority level for the data, on the basis of the transmission sourceposition information created by the position acquisition unit and thecorrespondence information acquired by the correspondence informationacquisition unit; and a processing unit configured to process the datain accordance with the priority level set by the setting unit.

(4) An on-vehicle device according to the present disclosure is anon-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, and includes: a processingunit configured to create correspondence information that indicates acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level, for transmission in an on-vehicle network, of the datatransmitted by a device located in the peripheral area; and acommunication unit configured to transmit the correspondence informationcreated by the processing unit to an extra-vehicular communicationdevice that is installed on the vehicle and is communicable with anexternal device located outside the vehicle.

(11) An on-vehicle communication system according to the presentdisclosure includes: an extra-vehicular communication device installedon a vehicle; and an on-vehicle device configured to createcorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level, and transmitsthe created correspondence information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device. The extra-vehicular communication device receivesdata from an external device located outside the vehicle, and creates,based on the received data, transmission source position informationindicating a position of a transmission source of the data. Theextra-vehicular communication device receives the correspondenceinformation from the on-vehicle device, sets a priority level for thedata on the basis of the received correspondence information and thecreated transmission source position information, and processes the datain accordance with the set priority level.

(12) A communication control method according to the present disclosureis a communication control method performed in an extra-vehicularcommunication device installed on a vehicle, and the method includes thesteps of: receiving data from an external device located outside thevehicle; based on the received data, creating transmission sourceposition information indicating a position of a transmission source ofthe data; acquiring correspondence information that indicates acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level; setting a priority level for the data, on the basis ofthe created transmission source position information and the acquiredcorrespondence information; and processing the data in accordance withthe set priority level.

(13) A communication control method according to the present disclosureis a communication control method performed in an on-vehicle deviceinstalled on a vehicle, and includes: creating correspondenceinformation indicating a correspondence relationship between peripheralposition information indicating a position of a peripheral area aroundthe vehicle, and a priority level, for transmission in an on-vehiclenetwork, of data transmitted by a device located in the peripheral area;and transmitting the created correspondence information to anextra-vehicular communication device that is installed on the vehicleand is communicable with an external device located outside the vehicle.

(14) A communication control method according to the present disclosureis a communication control method performed in an on-vehiclecommunication system including an extra-vehicular communication deviceinstalled on a vehicle, and an on-vehicle device. The method includesthe steps of: creating, by the on-vehicle device, correspondenceinformation that indicates a correspondence relationship betweenperipheral position information indicating a position of a peripheralarea around the vehicle, and a priority level; transmitting, by theon-vehicle device, the created correspondence information to theextra-vehicular communication device; receiving, by the extra-vehicularcommunication device, data from an external device located outside thevehicle; creating, by the extra-vehicular communication device,transmission source position information indicating a position of atransmission source of the received data on the basis of the data;receiving, by the extra-vehicular communication device, thecorrespondence information from the on-vehicle device; setting, by theextra-vehicular communication device, a priority level for the data onthe basis of the received correspondence information and the createdtransmission source position information; and processing, by theextra-vehicular communication device, the data in accordance with theset priority level.

(15) A communication control program according to the present disclosureis a communication control program used in an extra-vehicularcommunication device installed on a vehicle, and the program causes acomputer to function as: a reception unit configured to receive datafrom an external device located outside the vehicle; a positionacquisition unit configured to create, based on the data received by thereception unit, transmission source position information indicating aposition of a transmission source of the data; a correspondenceinformation acquisition unit configured to acquire correspondenceinformation that indicates a correspondence relationship betweenperipheral position information indicating a position of a peripheralarea around the vehicle, and a priority level; a setting unit configuredto set a priority level for the data, on the basis of the transmissionsource position information created by the position acquisition unit andthe correspondence information acquired by the correspondenceinformation acquisition unit; and a processing unit configured toprocess the data in accordance with the priority level set by thesetting unit.

(16) A communication control program according to the present disclosureis a communication control program used in an on-vehicle deviceinstalled on a vehicle, and the program causes a computer to functionas: a processing unit configured to create correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; and a communication unit configured totransmit the correspondence information created by the processing unitto an extra-vehicular communication device that is installed on thevehicle and is communicable with an external device located outside thevehicle.

One mode of the present disclosure can be realized not only as anextra-vehicular communication device including such a characteristicprocessing unit but also as a semiconductor integrated circuit thatrealizes a part or the entire of the extra-vehicular communicationdevice.

One mode of the present disclosure can be realized not only as anon-vehicle device including such a characteristic processing unit butalso as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes a part or theentire of the on-vehicle device.

One mode of the present disclosure can be realized not only as anon-vehicle communication system including such a characteristicprocessing unit but also as a semiconductor integrated circuit thatrealizes a part or the entire of the on-vehicle communication system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system according to afirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by a prioritydetermination device in the on-vehicle communication system according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an example of peripheral areas set by a prioritydetermination device in the on-vehicle communication system according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an extra-vehicular communication devicein the on-vehicle communication system according to the first embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an example of peripheral areas set by the prioritydetermination device in the on-vehicle communication system according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an example of peripheral areas set by the prioritydetermination device in the on-vehicle communication system according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a sequence when the extra-vehicularcommunication device sets a priority level for reception data, in theon-vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a priority determination deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by apriority determination device in an on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To date, an on-vehicle network system for improving security on anon-vehicle network has been developed.

Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure

For example, in a case where the on-vehicle network described in PatentLiterature 1 is connected to an external network outside a vehicle, anextra-vehicular communication device for communication with the externalnetwork may be provided in the vehicle. When the extra-vehicularcommunication device communicates with wireless terminal devices outsidethe vehicle, if the number of the wireless terminal devices increases orthe amount of communication data between the extra-vehicularcommunication device and the wireless terminal devices increases, theamount of data transmitted in the on-vehicle network significantlyincreases. In this case, useful information may not be satisfactorilytransmitted in the on-vehicle network.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the aforementionedproblem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide anextra-vehicular communication device, an on-vehicle device, anon-vehicle communication system, a communication control method, and acommunication control program which are able to satisfactorily transmituseful information in an on-vehicle network.

Effect of the Present Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted in an on-vehicle network.

Description of Embodiment of the Present Disclosure

First, the content of an embodiment of the present disclosure is listedand described.

(1) An extra-vehicular communication device according to an embodimentof the present disclosure is an extra-vehicular communication deviceinstalled on a vehicle, and includes: a reception unit configured toreceive data from an external device located outside the vehicle; aposition acquisition unit configured to create, based on the datareceived by the reception unit, transmission source position informationindicating a position of a transmission source of the data; acorrespondence information acquisition unit configured to acquirecorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level; a setting unitconfigured to set a priority level for the data, on the basis of thetransmission source position information created by the positionacquisition unit and the correspondence information acquired by thecorrespondence information acquisition unit; and a processing unitconfigured to process the data in accordance with the priority level setby the setting unit.

As described above, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device is set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, since the data is processed according to the setpriority level, it is possible to perform a process of preferentiallytransmitting the data with the high priority level in the on-vehiclenetwork. Thus, the data from the external device located in thesignificant peripheral area can be more reliably transmitted to, forexample, an on-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control.Therefore, in the on-vehicle network, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted.

(2) Preferably, the correspondence information is updated, and thecorrespondence information acquisition unit acquires, as post-updatecorrespondence information, a combination of peripheral positioninformation and a priority level, which is different from thecorrespondence information acquired previously.

As described above, since a combination of peripheral positioninformation and a priority level, which is different from thecorrespondence information acquired previously, is acquired, a differentpart of the correspondence information from the correspondenceinformation acquired previously can be rewritten, whereby the process ofupdating the correspondence information can be efficiently performed. Inaddition, since the amount of data of the post-update correspondenceinformation can be reduced, for example, communication load in theon-vehicle network can be reduced.

(3) Preferably, the correspondence information acquisition unit acquiresnew correspondence information in accordance with movement of thevehicle.

According to the above configuration, for example, even when thesignificant peripheral area is shifted because the traffic environmentaround the vehicle changes with movement of the vehicle, it is possibleto set an appropriate priority level according to the trafficenvironment for the data from the external device, on the basis of thecorrespondence information in which the current traffic environment isreflected.

(4) An on-vehicle device according to the embodiment of presentdisclosure is an on-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, and includes:a processing unit configured to create correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level, for transmission in an on-vehiclenetwork, of the data transmitted by a device located in the peripheralarea; and a communication unit configured to transmit the correspondenceinformation created by the processing unit to an extra-vehicularcommunication device that is installed on the vehicle and iscommunicable with an external device located outside the vehicle.

According to the above configuration, in the extra-vehicularcommunication device, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device can be set for data from the external device. Forexample, when autonomous driving control is performed, a high prioritylevel can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device, thedata can be processed according to the set priority level. For example,it is possible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting thedata with the high priority level in the on-vehicle network. Thus, thedata from the external device located in the significant peripheral areacan be more reliably transmitted to, for example, an on-vehicle devicethat performs autonomous driving control. Consequently, usefulinformation can be satisfactorily transmitted in the on-vehicle network.

(5) Preferably, the processing unit creates correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a relative position of the peripheral area withrespect to the vehicle, and a priority level.

According to this configuration, when autonomous driving control isperformed, a high priority level can be set for data from an externaldevice that is located in a peripheral area where it is difficult for asensor or the like installed on the vehicle to detect an object.

(6) Preferably, the processing unit creates correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating an absolute position of the peripheral area, anda priority level.

According to the above configuration, when autonomous driving control orthe like is performed, for example, the process unit can grasp thevehicle on a map, whereby it is possible to set a high priority levelfor data from an external device located in a peripheral area, such asan intersection a few hundred meters ahead, which is difficult to bedetected by the sensor or the like installed on the vehicle. Further,for example, an appropriate priority level can be set by usinginformation relating to a traffic event, such as information about apoint where traffic accidents often occur due to jumping-out onto theroad, or information about a roadwork to be held.

(7) Preferably, the processing unit and the extra-vehicularcommunication device retain common area division information indicatinga periphery of the vehicle being divided into a plurality of peripheralareas, and the processing unit creates correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between identificationinformation of each peripheral area in the area division information,and a priority level.

According to the above configuration, since the amount of datatransmitted from the on-vehicle device can be reduced, for example,communication load in the on-vehicle network can be reduced.

(8) More preferably, the processing unit and the extra-vehicularcommunication device retain a plurality of types of area divisioninformation, and the processing unit transmits the identificationinformation in the area division information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device via the communication unit, thereby changing thearea division information.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to adoptappropriate division of peripheral areas and appropriate setting ofpriority levels according to the surrounding environment or the like ofa vehicle.

(9) Preferably, the processing unit sets the priority level inaccordance with at least one of a traveling direction, a travelingspeed, a traveling road, a traveling position, a traveling mode, and ascheduled traveling route of the vehicle.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to set anappropriate priority level according to the traveling state or the likeof the vehicle.

(10) Preferably, the processing unit sets the priority level inaccordance with at least one of: a result of detection of an objectaround the vehicle; event information, acquired from outside thevehicle, which relates to a traffic event around the vehicle; and theevent information retained in the processing unit.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to set anappropriate priority level according to the surrounding environment orthe like of the vehicle.

(11) An on-vehicle communication system according to the embodiment ofpresent disclosure includes: an extra-vehicular communication deviceinstalled on a vehicle; and an on-vehicle device configured to createcorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level, and transmitsthe created correspondence information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device. The extra-vehicular communication device receivesdata from an external device located outside the vehicle, and creates,based on the received data, transmission source position informationindicating a position of a transmission source of the data. Theextra-vehicular communication device receives the correspondenceinformation from the on-vehicle device, sets a priority level for thedata on the basis of the received correspondence information and thecreated transmission source position information, and processes the datain accordance with the set priority level.

As described above, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device is set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, since the data is processed according to the setpriority level, it is possible to perform a process of preferentiallytransmitting the data with the high priority level in the on-vehiclenetwork. Thus, the data from the external device located in thesignificant peripheral area can be more reliably transmitted to, forexample, an on-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control.Therefore, in the on-vehicle network, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted.

(12) A communication control method according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure is a communication control method performed in anextra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle, and themethod includes the steps of: receiving data from an external devicelocated outside the vehicle; based on the received data, creatingtransmission source position information indicating a position of atransmission source of the data; acquiring correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; setting a priority level for the data, onthe basis of the created transmission source position information andthe acquired correspondence information; and processing the data inaccordance with the set priority level.

As described above, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device is set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, since the data is processed according to the setpriority level, it is possible to perform a process of preferentiallytransmitting the data with the high priority level in the on-vehiclenetwork. Thus, the data from the external device located in thesignificant peripheral area can be more reliably transmitted to, forexample, an on-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control.Therefore, in the on-vehicle network, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted.

(13) A communication control method according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure is a communication control method performed in anon-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, and includes: creatingcorrespondence information indicating a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level, fortransmission in an on-vehicle network, of data transmitted by a devicelocated in the peripheral area; and transmitting the createdcorrespondence information to an extra-vehicular communication devicethat is installed on the vehicle and is communicable with an externaldevice located outside the vehicle.

According to the above method, in the extra-vehicular communicationdevice, a priority level according to the position of an external devicecan be set for data from the external device. Therefore, when, forexample, autonomous driving control is performed, a high priority levelcan be set for data from an external device located in a significantperipheral area where presence/absence of an object should be confirmed.Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device, the data can beprocessed according to the set priority level. For example, it ispossible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting the datawith the high priority level in the on-vehicle network. Thus, the datafrom the external device located in the significant peripheral area canbe more reliably transmitted to, for example, an on-vehicle device thatperforms autonomous driving control. Therefore, in the on-vehiclenetwork, useful information can be satisfactorily transmitted.

(14) A communication control method according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure is a communication control method performed in anon-vehicle communication system including an extra-vehicularcommunication device installed on a vehicle, and an on-vehicle device.The method includes the steps of: creating, by the on-vehicle device,correspondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level; transmitting,by the on-vehicle device, the created correspondence information to theextra-vehicular communication device; receiving, by the extra-vehicularcommunication device, data from an external device located outside thevehicle; creating, by the extra-vehicular communication device,transmission source position information indicating a position of atransmission source of the received data on the basis of the data;receiving, by the extra-vehicular communication device, thecorrespondence information from the on-vehicle device; setting, by theextra-vehicular communication device, a priority level for the data onthe basis of the received correspondence information and the createdtransmission source position information; and processing, by theextra-vehicular communication device, the data in accordance with theset priority level.

As described above, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device is set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, since the data is processed according to the setpriority level, it is possible to perform a process of preferentiallytransmitting the data with the high priority level in the on-vehiclenetwork. Thus, the data from the external device located in thesignificant peripheral area can be more reliably transmitted to, forexample, an on-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control.Therefore, in the on-vehicle network, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted.

(15) A communication control program according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure is a communication control program used in anextra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle, and theprogram causes a computer to function as: a reception unit configured toreceive data from an external device located outside the vehicle; aposition acquisition unit configured to create, based on the datareceived by the reception unit, transmission source position informationindicating a position of a transmission source of the data; acorrespondence information acquisition unit configured to acquirecorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level; a setting unitconfigured to set a priority level for the data, on the basis of thetransmission source position information created by the positionacquisition unit and the correspondence information acquired by thecorrespondence information acquisition unit; and a processing unitconfigured to process the data in accordance with the priority level setby the setting unit.

As described above, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device is set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, since the data is processed according to the setpriority level, it is possible to perform a process of preferentiallytransmitting the data with the high priority level in the on-vehiclenetwork. Thus, the data from the external device located in thesignificant peripheral area can be more reliably transmitted to, forexample, an on-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control.Therefore, in the on-vehicle network, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted.

(16) A communication control program according to the present disclosureis a communication control program used in an on-vehicle deviceinstalled on a vehicle, and the program causes a computer to functionas: a processing unit configured to create correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; and a communication unit configured totransmit the correspondence information created by the processing unitto an extra-vehicular communication device that is installed on thevehicle and is communicable with an external device located outside thevehicle.

According to the above configuration, in the extra-vehicularcommunication device, a priority level according to the position of anexternal device can be set for data from the external device. Therefore,when, for example, autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device, thedata can be processed according to the set priority level. For example,it is possible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting thedata with the high priority level in the on-vehicle network. Thus, thedata from the external device located in the significant peripheral areacan be more reliably transmitted to, for example, an on-vehicle devicethat performs autonomous driving control. Therefore, in the on-vehiclenetwork, useful information can be satisfactorily transmitted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same orcorresponding parts are denoted by the same reference signs, anddescription thereof is not repeated. At least some parts of theembodiments described below may be combined together as desired.

First Embodiment Configuration and Basic Operation

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system according to afirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1, the communication system 300 includes anextra-vehicular communication device 101 and external devices 181A,181B, and 181C. Hereinafter, each of the external devices 181A, 181B,and 181C is also referred to as an external device 181.

In the communication system 300, two or four or more external devices181 may be provided.

The extra-vehicular communication device 101 is installed in a targetvehicle 1 and is communicable with the external devices 181 locatedoutside the target vehicle 1.

The extra-vehicular communication device 101 is able to perform wirelesscommunication with a wireless base station device (not shown) inaccordance with a communication standard such as LTE (Long TermEvolution) or 3G, for example. Via the wireless base station device, theextra-vehicular communication device 101 communicates with, for example,a map server or the like that provides map information indicating a mapbased on absolute coordinates. The absolute coordinates are coordinatesbased on latitude and longitude, for example.

The external device 181A is a wireless terminal device such as a smartphone which is held by a pedestrian, and moves as the pedestrian moves.The external device 181A is able to perform pedestrian-to-vehiclecommunication with the extra-vehicular communication device 101.

The external device 181B is, for example, a wireless terminal deviceinstalled in another vehicle 2, and moves as the other vehicle 2 moves.The external device 181B is able to perform vehicle-to-vehiclecommunication with the extra-vehicular communication device 101.

The external device 181C is, for example, a roadside unit, such as anoptical beacon, a radio beacon, or an ITS (Intelligent Transport System)spot, which is installed near a road. The external device 181C is ableto perform roadside-to-vehicle communication with the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101.

Each external device 181 retains terminal position informationindicating the position thereof. The terminal position informationindicates, for example, absolute coordinates of the external device 181.

More specifically, each of the external devices 181A and 181B acquiresthe position thereof on the basis of, for example, radio waves from aGPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and creates terminal positioninformation indicating the acquired position. As for the external device181C, terminal position information is registered by an installer whenthe external device 181C is installed.

[On-Vehicle Network 10]

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 2, the target vehicle 1 is equipped with anon-vehicle communication system 301. The on-vehicle communication system301 includes the extra-vehicular communication device 101, a prioritydetermination device (on-vehicle device) 111, an autonomous driving ECU(Electronic Control Unit) 112, a sensor 113, a camera 114, and a switchdevice 151.

An on-vehicle network 10 is established when the switch device 151 isconnected to each of the extra-vehicular communication device 101, thepriority determination device 111, the autonomous driving ECU 112, thesensor 113, and the camera 114.

In the on-vehicle network 10, for example, transmission/reception ofEthernet (registered trade mark) frames are performed in accordance withan Ethernet communication standard. In a part or the entirety of theon-vehicle network 10, transmission/reception of frames may be performedin accordance with a communication standard such as CAN (Controller AreaNetwork) (registered trade mark), Flex Ray (registered trade mark), MOST(Media Oriented Systems Transport) (registered trade mark), or LIN(Local Interconnect Network).

The sensor 113 is, for example, a laser radar. The sensor 113periodically detects an object around the target vehicle 1, and createsan Ethernet frame including sensor information indicating the detectionresult. The sensor 113 sets the autonomous driving ECU 112 as thedestination of the created Ethernet frame, and transmits the Ethernetframe to the switch device 151.

The switch device 151 is, for example, a layer 2 (L2) switch, and relaysthe Ethernet frame.

Upon receiving, from the sensor 113, the Ethernet frame directed to theautonomous driving ECU 112, the switch device 151 transmits the receivedEthernet frame to the autonomous driving ECU 112.

The camera 114, for example, periodically photographs surroundings ofthe target vehicle 1, and creates an Ethernet frame including camerainformation indicating the photographing result. The camera 114 sets theautonomous driving ECU 112 as the destination of the created Ethernetframe, and transmits the Ethernet frame to the autonomous driving ECU112 via the switch device 151.

The autonomous driving ECU 112 controls driving of the target vehicle 1.The autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, may completely controldriving of the target vehicle 1 or may perform drive assist, such asbrake assist or lane keeping assist, for the target vehicle 1.

More specifically, the autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, acquiresmap information from the map server via the wireless base stationdevice, the extra-vehicular communication device 101, and the switchdevice 151.

Further, the autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, acquires theposition of the target vehicle 1 on the basis of radio waves from a GPSsatellite at every predetermined period, and creates vehicle positioninformation indicating the acquired position. This vehicle positioninformation indicates, for example, absolute coordinates of the targetvehicle 1.

Based on the sensor information and the camera information received fromthe sensor 113 and the camera 114, respectively, the autonomous drivingECU 112 detects an object around the target vehicle 1, such as anothervehicle 2, a pedestrian, or a structure.

Based on the map information acquired from the map server, the createdvehicle position information, and the object detection result, theautonomous driving ECU 112 controls driving of the target vehicle 1.

Further, the autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, creates stateinformation indicating the autonomous driving state of the targetvehicle 1, and transmits the created state information to a registrationdestination (in this example, the priority determination device 111).

The state information includes, for example, traveling informationindicating the direction, speed, and the like of traveling of the targetvehicle 1, detection information indicating the detection result, thevehicle position information, and the map information. The direction inwhich the target vehicle 1 travels is indicated based on a magneticazimuth, for example.

The autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, creates state informationat a predetermined frequency, and transmits the created stateinformation to the registration destination (i.e., the prioritydetermination device 111) via the switch device 151.

The autonomous driving ECU 112 may change the state information creationfrequency in accordance with the traveling state of the target vehicle1.

Further, the autonomous driving ECU 112, for example, transmits anEthernet frame that includes a response request for confirming whetheror not an external device 181 exists around the target vehicle 1, to theextra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device 151 atevery predetermined time. A destination address of this response requestis a broadcast address, for example.

The priority determination device 111, for example, acquires the stateof autonomous driving of the target vehicle 1 on the basis of the stateinformation received from the autonomous driving ECU 112, and creates,on the basis of the acquired state, correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating the position of a peripheral area around thetarget vehicle 1, and a priority level.

Specifically, the priority determination device 111, for example,creates new correspondence information in accordance with movement ofthe target vehicle 1.

Further, the priority determination device 111, for example, updates thecorrespondence information, and creates, as post-update correspondenceinformation, correspondence information including a combination ofperipheral position information and a priority level, which is differentfrom the pre-update correspondence information.

In this example, there are 8 priority levels, for example. Specifically,the values of the priority levels are 0 to 7, for example. The greaterthe value of the priority level is, the higher the priority level is.The number of the priority levels is not limited to 8, and may be 2 to7, or 9 or more.

The priority determination device 111, for example, updates a peripheralarea table Tab1 each time the priority determination device 111 receivesstate information from the autonomous driving ECU 112.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4shows an example of peripheral areas that are set by the prioritydetermination device in the on-vehicle communication system according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the priority determination device111, for example, creates a peripheral area table Tab1 representing acorrespondence relationship between the positions of peripheral areasand priority levels. The peripheral area table Tab1 is an example ofcorrespondence information.

More specifically, the priority determination device 111, for example,sets a plurality of peripheral areas on the basis of the stateinformation. Each peripheral area is determined based on, for example,(X0, Y0) as absolute coordinates of the position of the target vehicle 1and the range of a radius r, and has a doughnut shape. Each peripheralarea abuts on an adjacent peripheral area, for example. Although thepriority determination device 111 is configured to set a plurality ofperipheral areas, the priority determination device 111 may beconfigured to set a single peripheral area.

The priority determination device 111 associates each of the setperipheral areas with the priority level, for transmission in theon-vehicle network 10, of data transmitted from an external device 181located in the peripheral area.

More specifically, based on the state information, the prioritydetermination device 111 determines, for example, whether the targetvehicle 1 is traveling on a residential street or a road with highvisibility.

For example, upon determining that the target vehicle 1 is traveling ona residential street, the priority determination device 111 sets thepriority levels for the respective peripheral areas as follows.

That is, the priority determination device 111 sets the priority levelfor a peripheral area closer to the target vehicle 1 to a greater value,and sets the priority level for a peripheral area farther from thetarget vehicle 1 to a smaller value.

Further, the priority determination device 111, for example, sets thepriority level for a peripheral area (hereinafter also referred to as“detection peripheral area”), which is included in a range (hereinafteralso referred to as “detection range”) in which presence/absence of anobject is detectable based on an object detection result, to thesmallest value.

Specifically, in this example, an area (hereinafter also referred to as“first peripheral area”) within a circle that is centered around thetarget vehicle 1 and has a radius r1, is included in the detectionrange.

Meanwhile, areas as follows are not included in the detection range: anarea (hereinafter also referred to as “second peripheral area”) within acircle that is centered around the target vehicle 1, is outside thecircle of the radius r1, and has a radius r2 greater than the radius r1;and an area (hereinafter also referred to as “third peripheral area”)within a circle (not shown) that is centered around the target vehicle1, is outside the circle of the radius r2, and has a radius r3 greaterthan the radius r2.

Since the first peripheral area is a detection peripheral area where anobject is detectable by the sensor 113 and the camera 114, the prioritydetermination device 111 sets the priority level for this area to zero.

Since the second peripheral area is a peripheral area that is closest tothe target vehicle 1 among the peripheral areas that are not detectionperipheral areas, the priority determination device 111 sets thepriority level for this area to 7 which is the highest level.

Since the third peripheral area is a peripheral area that is secondclosest to the target vehicle 1 among the peripheral areas that are notdetection peripheral areas, the priority determination device 111 setsthe priority level for this area to 6 which is the second highest level.

In the on-vehicle network 10, for example, data with a priority level ofa greater value is transmitted more preferentially. Therefore, in theaforementioned setting, data from an external device 181 located in aperipheral area (e.g., the second peripheral area) which is close to thetarget vehicle 1 and is not included in the detection range, istransmitted more preferentially than data from an external device 181located in a peripheral area (e.g., the third peripheral area) which isdistant from the target vehicle 1 or in the detection peripheral area,i.e., the first peripheral area.

Meanwhile, for example, upon determining that the target vehicle 1 istraveling on a road with high visibility, the priority determinationdevice 111 sets the priority levels for the peripheral area close to thetarget vehicle 1 and the detection peripheral area to smaller values,and sets the priority level for the peripheral area distant from thetarget vehicle 1 to a greater value.

Specifically, for example, since the first peripheral area is adetection peripheral area where an object is detectable by the sensor113 and the camera 114, the priority determination device 111 sets thepriority level for this area to zero.

Since the second peripheral area is a peripheral area that is closest tothe target vehicle 1 among the peripheral areas that are not detectionperipheral areas, the priority determination device 111 sets thepriority level for this area to 1 which is the second lowest level.

Since the third peripheral area is a peripheral area that is secondclosest to the target vehicle 1 among the peripheral areas that are notdetection peripheral areas, the priority determination device 111 setsthe priority level for this area to 2 which is the third lowest level.

According to the aforementioned setting, in the on-vehicle network 10,data from an external device 181 located in a peripheral area (e.g., thethird peripheral area) distant from the target vehicle 1 is transmittedmore preferentially than data from an external device 181 located in aperipheral area (e.g., the second peripheral area) close to the targetvehicle 1 or in the detection peripheral area, i.e., the firstperipheral area.

The priority determination device 111 creates table information T1indicating the created peripheral area table Tab1, and transmits anEthernet frame including the created table information T1 to theextra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device 151.

When receiving new state information from the autonomous driving ECU 112after transmission of the table information T1, the prioritydetermination device 111 updates the peripheral area table Tab1.

More specifically, the priority determination device 111 creates a newperipheral area table Tab1 (hereinafter also referred to as “post-updateperipheral area table Tab1”) on the basis of the new state informationwhile maintaining the already-transmitted peripheral area table Tab1(hereinafter also referred to as “pre-update peripheral area tableTab1”).

The priority determination device 111 compares the pre-update peripheralarea table Tab1 with the post-update peripheral area table Tab1,acquires combinations of “vehicle position” and “radius” with “prioritylevel”, which are different between the above tables, and createsdifference table information DT1 indicating the acquired combinations.

The priority determination device 111 transmits an Ethernet frameincluding the created difference table information DT1 to theextra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device 151.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the extra-vehicular communicationdevice in the on-vehicle communication system according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 5, the extra-vehicular communication device 101includes an extra-vehicular communication unit (reception unit) 21, aposition acquisition unit 22, a setting unit 23, a processing unit 24,and an intra-vehicular communication unit (correspondence informationacquisition unit) 25.

The intra-vehicular communication unit 25 in the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 is communicable with the switch device 151, forexample.

The intra-vehicular communication unit 25 acquires correspondenceinformation. Specifically, upon receiving an Ethernet frame includingthe table information T1 from the priority determination device 111, theintra-vehicular communication unit 25 acquires the table information T1from the received Ethernet frame, and outputs the acquired tableinformation T1 to the setting unit 23.

The intra-vehicular communication unit 25 acquires, as post-updatecorrespondence information, for example, a combination of peripheralposition information and a priority level, which is different from theacquired correspondence information. Specifically, the intra-vehicularcommunication unit 25 receives, as the post-update correspondenceinformation, the difference table information DT1 from the switch device151.

Further, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25, for example,acquires new correspondence information in accordance with movement ofthe target vehicle 1. Specifically, for example, since thecorrespondence information is updated at a predetermined frequency inthe priority determination device 111 and the target vehicle 1 ismoving, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 acquires newcorrespondence information in accordance with the movement of the targetvehicle 1.

More specifically, upon receiving an Ethernet frame including thedifference table information DT1 from the priority determination device111, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 acquires the differencetable information DT1 from the Ethernet frame, and outputs the acquireddifference table information DT1 to the setting unit 23.

Further, upon receiving an Ethernet frame including a response requestfrom the autonomous driving ECU 112, the intra-vehicular communicationunit 25 acquires the response request from the received Ethernet frame,and outputs the acquired response request to the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21.

The extra-vehicular communication unit 21 is communicable with anexternal device 181, for example. Upon receiving the response requestfrom the intra-vehicular communication unit 25, the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21 stores the received response request in a wirelessframe. Then, the extra-vehicular communication unit 21 confirms that thedestination address of the response request is a broadcast address, andbroadcasts the wireless frame.

Referring back to FIG. 1, upon receiving the wireless frame includingthe response request from the extra-vehicular communication device 101,the external device 181 creates response information which indicatespresence of the external device 181 and whose destination is theautonomous driving ECU 112, in accordance with the response requestincluded in the received wireless frame, and then transmits the wirelessframe including the created response information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101. This response information includes, forexample, the aforementioned terminal position information.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the extra-vehicular communication unit 21 inthe extra-vehicular communication device 101 receives data (hereinafteralso referred to as “reception data”) from the external device 181.

Specifically, upon receiving the wireless frame including the responseinformation from the external device 181, the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21 acquires the response information from thereceived wireless frame, and outputs the acquired response informationto the position acquisition unit 22 and the setting unit 23.

Based on the reception data received by the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21, the position acquisition unit 22 acquirestransmission source position information indicating the position of thetransmission source of the reception data.

More specifically, upon receiving the response information from theextra-vehicular communication unit 21, the position acquisition unit 22extracts the terminal position information as the transmission sourceposition information from the received response information, and outputsthe extracted transmission source position information to the settingunit 23.

The setting unit 23 sets a priority level for the reception data on thebasis of the transmission source position information acquired by theposition acquisition unit 22 and the correspondence information acquiredby the intra-vehicular communication unit 25.

More specifically, upon receiving the table information T1 from theintra-vehicular communication unit 25, the setting unit 23 retains theperipheral area table Tab1 (refer to FIG. 3) indicated by the receivedtable information T1.

Further, upon receiving the difference table information DT1 from theintra-vehicular communication unit 25, the setting unit 23 updates theperipheral area table Tab1 on the basis of the received difference tableinformation DT1.

Upon receiving the response information from the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21 and the corresponding transmission source positioninformation from the position acquisition unit 22, the setting unit 23sets a priority level for the response information on the basis of thereceived transmission source position information and the peripheralarea table Tab1.

More specifically, the setting unit 23 specifies a peripheral area thatincludes the absolute coordinates indicated by the transmission sourceposition information, among the peripheral areas included in theperipheral area table Tab1. Then, the setting unit 23 sets the prioritylevel corresponding to the specified peripheral area, as the prioritylevel for the response information. The setting unit 23 outputs the setpriority level and the response information to the processing unit 24.

The processing unit 24 processes the reception data in accordance withthe priority level set by the setting unit 23.

More specifically, upon receiving the priority level and the responseinformation from the setting unit 23, the processing unit 24 checks thereceived priority level.

For example, if the value of the checked priority level is not smallerthan a predetermined threshold Th1, the processing unit 24 outputs thepriority level and the response information to the intra-vehicularcommunication unit 25.

On the other hand, for example, if the value of the checked prioritylevel is smaller than the threshold Th1, the processing unit 24 discardsthe response information.

Upon receiving the priority level and the response information from theprocessing unit 24, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 creates anEthernet frame including the received response information, and performsthe following process.

That is, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 sets a value of apriority control field in the Ethernet frame, specifically, a value ofCoS (Class of Service) according to Tag VLAN (Virtual Local AreaNetwork), to the value indicated by the priority level.

Then, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 transmits the createdEthernet frame to the switch device 151.

Although the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 is configured to seta value of CoS, if the response information is transmitted according toIP protocol, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25 may be configuredto set a value of ToS (Type of Service) in an IPv4 header or a value ofTC (Traffic Class) in an IPv6 header.

Referring back to FIG. 2, upon receiving the Ethernet frame from theextra-vehicular communication device 101, the switch device 151 checksthe value of CoS in the received Ethernet frame, and transmits theEthernet frame at the priority level according to the checked value tothe autonomous driving ECU 112.

More specifically, for example, when the traffic volume of the Ethernetframe to be relayed is not less than a predetermined value, the switchdevice 151 discards or transfers the Ethernet frame in accordance withthe value of CoS.

Upon receiving the Ethernet frame from the switch device 151, theautonomous driving ECU 112, for example, retains the received Ethernetframe in a reception buffer (not shown), and checks the value of CoS inthe received Ethernet frame.

When the amount of data in the reception buffer is not less than apredetermined value, the autonomous driving ECU 112 discards theEthernet frame in the reception buffer in accordance with the value ofCoS.

As for an Ethernet frame not to be discarded, the autonomous driving ECU112 acquires response information from the Ethernet frame. Then, basedon terminal position information included in the acquired responseinformation, the autonomous driving ECU 112 recognizes the position of apedestrian, another vehicle 2, a roadside unit, etc., around the targetvehicle 1, and controls driving of the target vehicle 1, taking therecognition result into consideration.

In the extra-vehicular communication device 101, the responseinformation received from the external device 181 is a target for whicha priority level is set. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. Another type of information received from the external device181 may be a target for which a priority level is set.

[Another Example 1 for Setting Peripheral Area]

FIG. 6 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7shows an example of peripheral areas set by the priority determinationdevice in the on-vehicle communication system according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 shows an example ofperipheral areas with the values of priority levels being set to 7.

With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the priority determination device111 creates, for example, a peripheral area table Tab2 representing acorrespondence relationship between the positions of peripheral areasand priority levels. The peripheral area table Tab2 is an example ofcorrespondence information.

More specifically, the priority determination device 111 determines, forexample, whether the corresponding target vehicle 1 is traveling on aresidential street or a road with high visibility, on the basis of thestate information received from the autonomous driving ECU 112.

For example, upon determining that the target vehicle 1 is traveling ona residential street, the priority determination device 111 sets, basedon the state information, a peripheral area located 20 meters forward ofthe target vehicle 1, a peripheral area located 10 meters forward of thetarget vehicle 1 in an obliquely rightward direction, and a peripheralarea located 10 meters forward of the target vehicle 1 in an obliquelyleftward direction, as shown in FIG. 7.

More specifically, for example, the priority determination device 111sets these peripheral areas by, based on the state information,specifying: absolute coordinates (X0, Y0) indicating the position of thetarget vehicle 1; a range of an azimuth a with respect to a forwarddirection along which the target vehicle 1 travels; and a range of adistance r from the target vehicle 1. Then, the priority determinationdevice 111 sets the values of the priority levels for these peripheralareas to 7, for example.

The priority determination device 111 further sets one or a plurality ofperipheral areas different from the aforementioned peripheral areas, andsets the values of the priority levels for the set peripheral areas to 6or less, for example.

Meanwhile, for example, upon determining that the target vehicle 1 istraveling on a road with high visibility, the priority determinationdevice 111 sets a peripheral area (not shown) located 100 meters forwardof the target vehicle 1, and sets the value of the priority level forthe set peripheral area to 7, for example.

The priority determination device 111 further sets one or a plurality ofperipheral areas different from the aforementioned peripheral areas, andsets the values of the priority levels for the set peripheral areas to 6or less, for example.

Based on the setting result, the priority determination device 111creates table information T2 indicating the peripheral area table Tab2,and transmits an Ethernet frame including the created table informationT2 to the extra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device151.

[Another Example 2 for Setting Peripheral Area]

FIG. 8 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9shows an example of peripheral areas set by the priority determinationdevice in the on-vehicle communication system according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the priority determination device111 creates, for example, a peripheral area table Tab3 representing acorrespondence relationship between the positions of peripheral areasand priority levels. The peripheral area table Tab3 is an example ofcorrespondence information.

More specifically, the priority determination device 111 sets, forexample, a plurality of peripheral areas on the basis of the stateinformation received from the autonomous driving ECU 112. Theseperipheral areas are, for example, square meshes Mes each beingdetermined based on: the forward direction along which the targetvehicle 1 travels; the reference position based on the absolutecoordinates; and specified length L and width W. The respective meshesMes may have the same size or different sizes. Each mesh Mes abuts onadjacent meshes Mes. The reference position is located at the center ofthe array of the meshes Mes.

For example, upon determining, based on the state information, that thetarget vehicle 1 is traveling on a residential street, the prioritydetermination device 111 sets the priority levels for the respectivemeshes Mes as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the priority determination device 111, forexample, sets the smaller values of priority levels for: the meshes Meslocated rearward of the position (X0, Y0) of the target vehicle 1; andthe meshes that are included in the detection range and the meshes thatare distant from the target vehicle 1 among the meshes Mes locatedforward of the position (X0, Y0) of the target vehicle 1.

Meanwhile, the priority determination device 111 sets the greater valuesof priority levels for the meshes that are not included in the detectionrange and are close to the target vehicle 1 among the meshes Mes locatedforward of the position (X0, Y0) of the target vehicle 1.

On the other hand, for example, upon determining that the target vehicle1 is traveling on a road with high visibility, the prioritydetermination device 111 sets the priority levels for the respectivemeshes Mes as follows.

That is, the priority determination device 111, for example, sets thesmaller values of priority levels for: the meshes Mes located rearwardof the position (X0, Y0) of the target vehicle 1; and the meshes Mesthat are included in the detection range and the meshes Mes that areclose to the target vehicle 1 among the meshes Mes located forward ofthe position (X0, Y0) of the target vehicle 1.

Meanwhile, the priority determination device 111 sets the greater valuesof priority levels for the meshes Mes that are not included in thedetection range and are distant from the target vehicle 1 among themeshes Mes located forward of the position (X0, Y0) of the targetvehicle 1.

Based on the setting result, the priority determination device 111creates table information T3 indicating the peripheral area table Tab3,and transmits an Ethernet frame including the created table informationT3 to the extra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device151.

[Operation Flow]

Each of the devices in the on-vehicle communication system 301 includesa computer, and an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU in thecomputer reads out a program including a part or all of steps in thesequence diagram or flow chart described below from a memory (notshown), and executes the program. The programs for the plurality ofdevices can be externally installed. The programs for the plurality ofdevices are each distributed in a state of being stored in a storagemedium.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a sequence when the extra-vehicularcommunication device sets a priority level for reception data in theon-vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 10, first, the autonomous driving ECU 112 createsstate information, and transmits the created state information to thepriority determination device 111 which is a registration destination(step S102).

Upon receiving the state information from the autonomous driving ECU112, the priority determination device 111 creates a peripheral areatable Tab1 on the basis of the received state information (step S104).

Next, the priority determination device 111 transmits table informationT1 indicating the formed peripheral area table Tab1 to theextra-vehicular communication device 101 via the switch device 151 (stepS106).

Upon receiving the table information T1 from the priority determinationdevice 111, the extra-vehicular communication device 101 retains theperipheral area table Tab1 indicated by the received table informationT1 (step S108).

Next, the autonomous driving ECU 112 creates new state information, andtransmits the created new state information to the prioritydetermination device 111 which is a registration destination (stepS110).

Upon receiving the new state information from the autonomous driving ECU112, the priority determination device 111 updates the peripheral areatable Tab1 on the basis of the received new state information (stepS112).

Next, the priority determination device 111 compares the pre-updateperipheral area table Tab1 with the post-update peripheral area tableTab1, and acquires a combination of “vehicle position” and “radius” with“priority level”, which is different between the above tables, andcreates difference table information DT1 indicating the acquiredcombination (step S114).

Next, the priority determination device 111 transmits the createddifference table information DT1 to the extra-vehicular communicationdevice 101 via the switch device 151 (step S116).

Upon receiving the difference table information DT1 from the prioritydetermination device 111, the extra-vehicular communication device 101updates the peripheral area table Tab1 on the basis of the receiveddifference table information DT1 (step S118).

Next, the autonomous driving ECU 112 transmits a response request whosedestination address is a broadcast address, to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 via the switch device 151 (step S120).

Upon receiving the response request from the autonomous driving ECU 112,the extra-vehicular communication device 101 broadcasts the receivedresponse request (step S122).

Upon receiving the response request, the external device 181 transmits,in response to the received response request, response information whosedestination is the autonomous driving ECU 112, to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 (step S124).

Upon receiving the response information from the external device 181,the extra-vehicular communication device 101 acquires the terminalposition information, i.e., the transmission source positioninformation, from the received response information (step S126).

Next, the extra-vehicular communication device 101 sets a priority levelfor the response information on the basis of the peripheral area tableTab1 and the transmission source position information (step S128).

For example, when the value of the set priority level is not smallerthan the threshold Th1, the extra-vehicular communication device 101transmits the response information with the set priority level to theautonomous driving ECU 112 via the switch device 151 (step S130).

If the value of the set priority level is smaller than the threshold Th1in the above step S130, the extra-vehicular communication device 101 maydiscard the response information.

The extra-vehicular communication device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure is configured to include theextra-vehicular communication unit 21 communicable with the externaldevice 181. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Theextra-vehicular communication device 101 may be configured to include areception unit that simply receives data from the external device 181,instead of the extra-vehicular communication unit 21.

In the extra-vehicular communication device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, the position acquisition unit 22is configured to acquire the transmission source position informationfrom the reception data. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. The position acquisition unit 22 may be configured to createthe transmission source position information on the basis of thereception data. Specifically, for example, in a configuration where theextra-vehicular communication unit 21 measures a reception intensity ofradio waves including a wireless frame transmitted from the externaldevice 181, and an angle of arrival of the radio waves, the positionacquisition unit 22 performs the following operation. That is, based onthe reception intensity and the angle of arrival measured by theextra-vehicular communication unit 21, the position acquisition unit 22calculates a distance between the extra-vehicular communication device101 and the external device 181, and a direction of the external device181 with respect to the position acquisition unit 22. Then, based on thecalculated distance and direction, the position acquisition unit 22creates the transmission source position information.

In the on-vehicle network according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the correspondence information is updated. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the on-vehicle network10, the correspondence information may be fixedly operated. In thiscase, the correspondence information indicates, for example, acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationcreated based on relative coordinates with respect to the target vehicle1, and a priority level. The extra-vehicular communication device 101,for example, retains the correspondence information, and registersitself, in the autonomous driving ECU 112, as a destination of the stateinformation, thereby receiving the state information from the autonomousdriving ECU 112 at a predetermined frequency. Based on the stateinformation received from the autonomous driving ECU 112, theextra-vehicular communication device 101 converts the peripheralposition information based on the relative coordinates into theperipheral position information based on the absolute coordinates, andsets the priority level for the reception data on the basis of thetransmission source position information and the correspondencerelationship between the peripheral position after conversion and thepriority level.

In the on-vehicle network according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure, new correspondence information is transmitted inaccordance with movement of the target vehicle 1. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. In the on-vehicle network 10, forexample, new correspondence information may be transmitted when thetarget vehicle 1 is parked in a parking area, pulled over a roadshoulder, or stopped at a signal light or the like. This correspondenceinformation indicates, for example, a correspondence relationship,between the peripheral position information and the priority level,which allows the parked or stopped target vehicle 1 to startsatisfactorily. This correspondence information is useful when thetarget vehicle 1 is started, for example.

When the on-vehicle network disclosed in Patent Literature 1 isconnected to the external network outside the vehicle, anextra-vehicular communication device for communication with the externalnetwork may be provided in the vehicle. When the extra-vehicularcommunication device communicates with wireless terminal devices outsidethe vehicle, if the number of the wireless terminal devices increases orthe amount of communication data between the extra-vehicularcommunication device and the wireless terminal devices increases, theamount of data transmitted in the on-vehicle network significantlyincreases. In this case, useful information may not be satisfactorilytransmitted in the on-vehicle network.

Meanwhile, the extra-vehicular communication device according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure is installed on the targetvehicle 1. The extra-vehicular communication unit 21 receives receptiondata that is data from an external device 181 outside the target vehicle1. Based on the reception data received by the extra-vehicularcommunication unit 21, the position acquisition unit 22 createstransmission source position information indicating the position of thetransmission source of the reception data. The intra-vehicularcommunication unit 25 acquires correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating the position of a peripheral area around the target vehicle1, and a priority level. The setting unit 23 sets the priority level forthe reception data on the basis of the transmission source positioninformation created by the position acquisition unit 22 and thecorrespondence information acquired by the intra-vehicular communicationunit 25. Then, the processing unit 24 processes the reception data inaccordance with the priority level set by the setting unit 23.

As described above, the priority level according to the position of anexternal device 181 is set for the data from the external device 181.Therefore, for example, when autonomous driving control is performed, itis possible to set a high priority level for data from an externaldevice 181 located in a significant peripheral area wherepresence/absence of an object should be confirmed. In addition, sincethe data is processed according to the set priority level, it ispossible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting the datawith the high priority level in the on-vehicle network 10. Thus, thedata from the external device 181 located in the significant peripheralarea can be more reliably transmitted to, for example, an on-vehicledevice that performs autonomous driving control. Therefore, in theon-vehicle network, useful information can be satisfactorilytransmitted.

Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure, the correspondenceinformation is updated. Then, the intra-vehicular communication unit 25acquires, as the post-update correspondence information, a combinationof peripheral position information and a priority level, which isdifferent from the correspondence information acquired previously.

Since a combination of peripheral position information and a prioritylevel, which is different from that acquired previously, is acquired, apart, of the correspondence information, different from the lastcorrespondence information can be rewritten, whereby the correspondenceinformation updating process can be efficiently performed. In addition,since the amount of data of the post-update correspondence informationcan be reduced, it is possible to reduce, for example, communicationload in the on-vehicle network 10.

Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure, the intra-vehicularcommunication unit 25 acquires new correspondence information inaccordance with movement of the target vehicle 1.

According to the above configuration, for example, even when thesignificant peripheral area is shifted because the traffic environmentaround the target vehicle 1 changes with movement of the target vehicle1, it is possible to set an appropriate priority level according to thetraffic environment for the reception data from the external device 181,on the basis of the correspondence information in which the currenttraffic environment is reflected.

Further, in the on-vehicle communication system according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, the extra-vehicular communicationdevice 101 is installed on the target vehicle 1. The prioritydetermination device 111 creates correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating the position of a peripheral area around the target vehicle1, and a priority level, and transmits the created correspondenceinformation to the extra-vehicular communication device 101. Theextra-vehicular communication device 101 receives reception data that isdata from the external device 181 outside the target vehicle 1, andcreates transmission source position information indicating the positionof the transmission source of the reception data, on the basis of thereceived reception data. Then, the extra-vehicular communication device101 receives the correspondence information from the prioritydetermination device 111, sets the priority level for the reception dataon the basis of the received correspondence information and the createdtransmission source position information, and processes the receptiondata in accordance with the set priority level.

As described above, the priority level according to the position of theexternal device 181 is set for the data from the external device 181.Therefore, for example, when autonomous driving control is performed, itis possible to set a high priority level for data from an externaldevice 181 located in a significant peripheral area wherepresence/absence of an object should be confirmed. In addition, sincethe data is processed according to the set priority level, it ispossible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting the datawith the high priority level in the on-vehicle network 10. Thus, thedata from the external device 181 located in the significant peripheralarea can be more reliably transmitted to, for example, an on-vehicledevice that performs autonomous driving control. Therefore, in theon-vehicle network, useful information can be satisfactorilytransmitted.

Next, another embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same orcorresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and willnot be repeatedly described. The contents other than those describedbelow are the same as those of the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the first embodiment.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a priority determination deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 11, the priority determination device 111includes a communication unit 31 and a processing unit 32.

The communication unit 31 transmits/receives Ethernet frames to/fromanother device via the switch device 151.

Based on various types of information such as state information receivedvia the switch device 151, the processing unit 32 creates correspondenceinformation indicating a correspondence relationship between peripheralposition information indicating the position of a peripheral area arounda target vehicle 1, and a priority level, for transmission in theon-vehicle network 10, of data to be transmitted by a device located inthe peripheral area. Then, the processing unit 32 outputs thecorrespondence information to the communication unit 31.

The communication unit 31 transmits the correspondence informationreceived from the processing unit 32 to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 via the switch device 151.

As in the priority determination device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 32 creates,for example, new correspondence information according to movement of thetarget vehicle 1. In addition, for example, the processing unit 32updates the correspondence information, and creates, as post-updatecorrespondence information, correspondence information including acombination of peripheral position information and a priority level,which is different from the pre-update correspondence information.

[Example of Peripheral Area Table]

FIG. 12 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The processing unit 32 creates correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a relative position of a peripheral area with respect to thetarget vehicle 1, and a priority level.

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 12, the processing unit 32, forexample, sets a coordinate system that is based on the position of thetarget vehicle 1 and is composed of: an x axis perpendicular to theadvancing direction of the target vehicle 1; a y axis along theadvancing direction of the target vehicle 1; and a z axis along theheight direction of the target vehicle 1.

The processing unit 32 sets a priority level for each of square areas towhich relative coordinates with respect to the position of the targetvehicle 1 are assigned. The processing unit 32 creates a peripheral areatable Tab4 representing a correspondence relationship between therelative coordinates indicating the position of each peripheral area,and a priority level.

Each of the peripheral area table Tab1 shown in FIG. 3, the peripheralarea table Tab2 shown in FIG. 6, and the peripheral area table Tab3shown in FIG. 8 also corresponds to correspondence informationrepresenting a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating the relative position of each peripheral areawith respect to the target vehicle 1, and a priority level.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The processing unit 32 creates correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating an absolute position of each peripheral area around thetarget vehicle 1, and a priority level.

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 13, the processing unit 32, forexample, sets a coordinate system to which absolute coordinates obtainedby a GPS or the like are assigned, for example. The absolute coordinatesare (latitude, longitude, altitude).

The processing unit 32 sets a priority level for each of square areas towhich absolute coordinates are assigned. The processing unit 32 createsa peripheral area table Tab5 representing a correspondence relationshipbetween the absolute coordinates indicating the position of eachperipheral area, and a priority level.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a peripheral area table created by thepriority determination device in the on-vehicle communication systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The processing unit 32 and the setting unit 23 in the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 retain common area division informationindicating the periphery of the target vehicle 1 being divided into aplurality of peripheral areas. For example, the area divisioninformation can be registered in the target vehicle 1 in advance inaccordance with necessity in autonomous driving.

The processing unit 32 creates correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between identification information for eachof the peripheral areas, i.e., the divided areas, in the area divisioninformation, and a priority level.

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 14, each of the processing unit 32and the setting unit 23 retains, for example, area division informationindicating the periphery of the target vehicle 1 being dividedconcentrically and in front, rear, left, and right directions. An areaID is assigned to each peripheral area in the area division information.The area division information may include a peripheral area in theheight direction of the target vehicle 1.

The processing unit 32 sets a priority level for each area ID.Specifically, for example, the processing unit 32 sets a priority levelfor each peripheral area in accordance with difficulty in detecting anobject.

The processing unit 32 creates a peripheral area table Tab6 representinga correspondence relationship between area IDs indicating peripheralpositions and priority levels. The peripheral area table Tab6corresponds to correspondence information indicating a correspondencerelationship between peripheral position information indicating therelative position of each peripheral area with respect to the targetvehicle 1, and a priority level.

Further, for example, each of the processing unit 32 and theextra-vehicular communication device 101 retains a plurality of types ofarea division information.

The processing unit 32 transmits the identification information of thearea division information to the extra-vehicular communication device101 via the communication unit 31, thereby changing the area divisioninformation.

More specifically, a map ID is assigned to the area divisioninformation. The processing unit 32 transmits, for example, a map changeinstruction SI indicating a map ID=2 to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 via the communication unit 31, thereby changingthe area division information to that of the map ID=2.

The setting unit 23 in the extra-vehicular communication device 101receives the map change instruction via the intra-vehicularcommunication unit 25, and changes the area division information to thatof the map ID=2.

The processing unit 32 changes the area division information inaccordance with the surrounding environment or the like of the targetvehicle 1. Specifically, for example, the processing unit 32 changes thearea division information depending on whether the target vehicle 1 istraveling in a normal mode or a low-speed mode, which is selected by theautonomous driving ECU 112 according to the number of pedestrians aroundthe target vehicle 1.

The processing unit 32 does not necessarily have a function of creatingall the three pieces of correspondence information as shown in FIG. 12to FIG. 14. The processing unit 32 may have a function of creating anyone or two of the three pieces of correspondence information.

[Example of Setting of Priority Level]

For example, based on the various types of information such as the stateinformation received via the switch device 151, the processing unit 32sets the priority levels in the correspondence information.

More specifically, the processing unit 32 sets the priority levels inaccordance with, for example, at least one of a traveling direction, atraveling speed, a traveling road, a traveling position, a travelingmode, and a scheduled traveling route of the target vehicle 1, and theresult of detection of an object around the target vehicle 1.

Specifically, for example, the processing unit 32 sets a high prioritylevel for an area forward of the target vehicle 1.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with the rise and fall of the travelingspeed of the target vehicle 1.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with whether the target vehicle 1 istraveling on an expressway or an ordinary road.

For example, the processing unit 32 sets a high priority level for anarea such as an intersection, a merging point, or a point into whichentry of another vehicle is predicted.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with whether the target vehicle 1 istraveling in an urban area or a suburb.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with whether the target vehicle 1 istraveling in the normal mode or a low-speed mode.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with whether or not the target vehicle 1will soon pass through a busy intersection.

For example, the processing unit 32 changes the setting content of thepriority level in accordance with whether or not the correspondingperipheral area is an area where the target vehicle 1 can detect anobject. Thus, for example, data from a peripheral area where coverage bythe sensor 113 or the like of the target vehicle 1 is insufficient, canbe preferentially transmitted.

Alternatively, for example, the processing unit 32 createscorrespondence information on the basis of event information, relatingto a traffic event around the target vehicle 1, which is acquired fromoutside the target vehicle 1, e.g., which is received from the externaldevice 181 via the extra-vehicular communication device 101 and theswitch device 151.

Specifically, the event information is, for example, information about apoint where traffic accidents often occur due to jumping-out onto theroad, or information about a roadwork to be held. In this case, theprocessing unit 32 sets a high priority level for the peripheral areacorresponding to the event information.

The processing unit 32 creates correspondence information on the basisof event information retained therein. This event information may be,for example, event information received by the processing unit 32 fromoutside the target vehicle 1 while the target vehicle 1 is traveling, ormay be event information registered in the target vehicle 1 in advance.

The processing unit 32 may create correspondence information on thebasis of event information that is not retained therein but is receivedat any time from outside the target vehicle 1. Alternatively, theprocessing unit 32 may create correspondence information on the basis ofevent information that is not received from outside the target vehicle 1but is retained therein in advance.

As described above, in the on-vehicle device according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 32 createscorrespondence information indicating a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating the position of aperipheral area around the target vehicle 1, and a priority level, fortransmission in the on-vehicle network 10, of data transmitted by adevice located in the peripheral area. Then, the communication unit 31transmits the correspondence information created by the processing unit32 to the extra-vehicular communication device 101 which is installed onthe target vehicle 1 and is communicable with an external device 181outside the target vehicle 1.

According to the above configuration, in the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101, a priority level according to the position ofan external device 181 can be set for data from the external device 181.For example, when autonomous driving control is performed, a highpriority level can be set for data from an external device 181 locatedin a significant peripheral area where presence/absence of an objectshould be confirmed. In addition, in the extra-vehicular communicationdevice 101, the data can be processed according to the set prioritylevel. For example, it is possible to perform a process ofpreferentially transmitting the data with the high priority level in theon-vehicle network 10. Thus, the data from the external device 181located in the significant peripheral area can be more reliablytransmitted to, for example, an on-vehicle device that performsautonomous driving control.

Thus, in the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, useful information can be satisfactorily transmittedin the on-vehicle network.

Further, in the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the processing unit 32 creates correspondenceinformation indicating a correspondence relationship between peripheralposition information indicating the relative position of a peripheralarea with respect to the target vehicle 1, and a priority level.

According to this configuration, when autonomous driving control or thelike is performed, for example, a high priority level can be set fordata from an external device 181 that is located in a peripheral areawhere it is difficult for the sensor or the like installed on the targetvehicle 1 to detect an object.

Further, in the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the processing unit 32 creates correspondenceinformation indicating a correspondence relationship between peripheralposition information indicating the absolute position of a peripheralarea around the target vehicle 1, and a priority level.

According to the above configuration, when autonomous driving control orthe like is performed, for example, the target vehicle 1 on the map canbe grasped, whereby it is possible to set a high priority level for datafrom an external device 181 located in a peripheral area, such as anintersection a few hundred meters ahead, which is difficult to bedetected by the sensor or the like installed on the target vehicle 1.Further, for example, an appropriate priority level can be set by usinginformation relating to a traffic event, such as information about apoint where traffic accidents often occur due to jumping-out onto theroad, or information about a roadwork to be held.

In the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the processing unit 32 and the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 retain common area division informationindicating the periphery of the target vehicle 1 being divided into aplurality of peripheral areas. Then, the processing unit 32 createscorrespondence information indicating a correspondence relationshipbetween identification information of each peripheral area in the areadivision information, and a priority level.

According to the above configuration, the amount of data transmittedfrom the priority determination device 111 can be reduced, whereby, forexample, communication load in the on-vehicle network 10 can be reduced.

In the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the processing unit 32 and the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 retain a plurality of types of area divisioninformation. Then, the processing unit 32 transmits identificationinformation of area division information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device 101 via the communication unit 31, thereby changingthe area division information.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to adoptappropriate division of peripheral areas and appropriate setting ofpriority levels according to the surrounding environment or the like ofthe target vehicle 1.

In the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the processing unit 32 sets a priority levelaccording to at least one of a traveling direction, a traveling speed, atraveling road, a traveling position, a traveling mode, and a scheduledtraveling route of the target vehicle 1.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to set anappropriate priority level according to the traveling state or the likeof the target vehicle 1.

In the on-vehicle device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the processing unit 32 sets a priority levelaccording to at least one of: a result of detection of an object aroundthe target vehicle 1; event information, relating to a traffic eventaround the target vehicle 1, acquired from outside the target vehicle 1;and event information retained in the processing unit 32.

According to the above configuration, an appropriate priority levelaccording to the surrounding environment or the like of the targetvehicle 1 can be set.

Further, in a communication control method according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure, first, correspondence informationis created which indicates a correspondence relationship betweenperipheral position information indicating the position of a peripheralarea around the target vehicle 1, and a priority level, for transmissionin the on-vehicle network 10, of data transmitted by a device located inthe peripheral area. Next, the created correspondence information istransmitted to the extra-vehicular communication device 101 which isinstalled on the target vehicle 1 and is communicable with an externaldevice 181 located outside the target vehicle 1.

According to the above method, in the extra-vehicular communicationdevice 101, a priority level according to the position of the externaldevice 181 can be set for data from the external device 181. Forexample, when autonomous driving control is performed, a high prioritylevel can be set for data from an external device 181 located in asignificant peripheral area where presence/absence of an object shouldbe confirmed. Further, in the extra-vehicular communication device 101,data can be processed according to the set priority level. For example,it is possible to perform a process of preferentially transmitting thedata with the high priority level in the on-vehicle network 10. Thus,the data from the external device 181 located in the significantperipheral area can be transmitted with more reliability to anon-vehicle device that performs autonomous driving control, for example.

Therefore, in the communication control method according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure, useful information can besatisfactorily transmitted in the on-vehicle network.

The other configuration and operation are the same as those in theon-vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment, andtherefore detailed description thereof is not repeated here.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all aspects andshould be considered not restrictive. The scope of the present inventionis not limited by the configuration of the above-described embodimentbut is defined by the claims, and is intended to include meaningequivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within thescope.

The above description includes the features in the additional notesbelow.

[Additional Note 1]

An extra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle,comprising: a reception unit configured to receive data from an externaldevice located outside the vehicle;

a position acquisition unit configured to create, based on the datareceived by the reception unit, transmission source position informationindicating a position of a transmission source of the data;

a correspondence information acquisition unit configured to acquirecorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level;

a setting unit configured to set a priority level for the data, on thebasis of the transmission source position information created by theposition acquisition unit and the correspondence information acquired bythe correspondence information acquisition unit; and

a processing unit configured to process the data in accordance with thepriority level set by the setting unit, wherein

the external device is a wireless terminal device held by a pedestrianwho is moving, a wireless terminal device installed in another vehiclethat is moving, or a roadside unit provided near a road,

the external device acquires a position thereof on the basis of radiowaves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and transmitsdata including terminal position information indicating the acquiredposition,

the position acquisition unit acquires, from the data, the terminalposition information as the transmission source position information,and

the processing unit compares the priority level set by the setting unitwith a predetermined threshold, and transmits or discards the data onthe basis of a result of the comparison.

[Additional Note 2]

An on-vehicle communication system comprising:

an extra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle; and

an on-vehicle device configured to create correspondence informationthat indicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level, and transmit the created correspondenceinformation to the extra-vehicular communication device, wherein

the extra-vehicular communication device receives data from an externaldevice located outside the vehicle, and creates, based on the receiveddata, transmission source position information indicating a position ofa transmission source of the data,

the extra-vehicular communication device receives the correspondenceinformation from the on-vehicle device, sets a priority level for thedata, on the basis of the received correspondence information and thecreated transmission source position information, and processes the datain accordance with the set priority level,

the external device is a wireless terminal device held by a pedestrianwho is moving, a wireless terminal device installed in another vehiclethat is moving, or a roadside unit provided near a road,

the external device acquires a position thereof on the basis of radiowaves from a GPS satellite, and transmits data including terminalposition information indicating the acquired position,

the extra-vehicular communication device acquires, from the data, theterminal position information as the transmission source positioninformation, and

the extra-vehicular communication device compares the set priority levelwith a predetermined threshold, and transmits or discards the data onthe basis of a result of the comparison.

[Additional Note 3]

An on-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, comprising:

a processing unit configured to create correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level, for transmission in an on-vehiclenetwork, of the data transmitted by a device located in the peripheralarea; and

a communication unit configured to transmit the correspondenceinformation created by the processing unit to an extra-vehicularcommunication device that is installed on the vehicle and iscommunicable with an external device located outside the vehicle,wherein

the extra-vehicular communication device receives data from the externaldevice, creates transmission source position information indicating aposition of a transmission source of the data on the basis of thereceived data, sets a priority level for the data on the basis of thecreated transmission source position information and the createdcorrespondence information, and processes the data in accordance withthe set priority level,

the external device is a wireless terminal device held by a pedestrianwho is moving, a wireless terminal device installed in another vehiclethat is moving, or a roadside unit provided near a road, and

the external device acquires a position thereof on the basis of radiowaves from a GPS satellite, and transmits data including terminalposition information indicating the acquired position.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 target vehicle

2 another vehicle

10 on-vehicle network

21 extra-vehicular communication unit (reception unit)

22 position acquisition unit

23 setting unit

24 processing unit

25 intra-vehicular communication unit (correspondence informationacquisition unit)

31 communication unit

32 processing unit

101 extra-vehicular communication device

111 priority determination device (on-vehicle device)

112 autonomous driving ECU

113 sensor

114 camera

151 switch device

181 external device

300 communication system

301 on-vehicle communication system

1. An extra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle,comprising: a reception unit configured to receive data from an externaldevice located outside the vehicle; a position acquisition unitconfigured to create, based on the data received by the reception unit,transmission source position information indicating a position of atransmission source of the data; a correspondence informationacquisition unit configured to acquire correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; a setting unit configured to set apriority level for the data, on the basis of the transmission sourceposition information created by the position acquisition unit and thecorrespondence information acquired by the correspondence informationacquisition unit; and a processing unit configured to process the datain accordance with the priority level set by the setting unit.
 2. Theextra-vehicular communication device according to claim 1, wherein thecorrespondence information is updated, and the correspondenceinformation acquisition unit acquires, as post-update correspondenceinformation, a combination of peripheral position information and apriority level, the combination being different from the correspondenceinformation acquired previously.
 3. The extra-vehicular communicationdevice according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence informationacquisition unit acquires new correspondence information in accordancewith movement of the vehicle.
 4. An on-vehicle device installed on avehicle, comprising: a processing unit configured to createcorrespondence information that indicates a correspondence relationshipbetween peripheral position information indicating a position of aperipheral area around the vehicle, and a priority level, fortransmission in an on-vehicle network, of the data transmitted by adevice located in the peripheral area; and a communication unitconfigured to transmit the correspondence information created by theprocessing unit to an extra-vehicular communication device that isinstalled on the vehicle and is communicable with an external devicelocated outside the vehicle.
 5. The on-vehicle device according to claim4, wherein the processing unit creates the correspondence informationthat indicates the correspondence relationship between the peripheralposition information indicating a relative position of the peripheralarea with respect to the vehicle, and the priority level.
 6. Theon-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the processing unitcreates the correspondence information that indicates the correspondencerelationship between the peripheral position information indicating anabsolute position of the peripheral area, and the priority level.
 7. Theon-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit andthe extra-vehicular communication device retain common area divisioninformation indicating a periphery of the vehicle being divided into aplurality of peripheral areas, and the processing unit creates thecorrespondence information that indicates the correspondencerelationship between identification information of each peripheral areain the area division information, and the priority level.
 8. Theon-vehicle device according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit andthe extra-vehicular communication device retain a plurality of types ofthe area division information, and the processing unit transmits theidentification information in the area division information to theextra-vehicular communication device via the communication unit, therebychanging the area division information.
 9. The on-vehicle deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the processing unit sets the prioritylevel in accordance with at least one of a traveling direction, atraveling speed, a traveling road, a traveling position, a travelingmode, and a scheduled traveling route of the vehicle.
 10. The on-vehicledevice according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit sets thepriority level in accordance with at least one of: a result of detectionof an object around the vehicle; event information, acquired fromoutside the vehicle, which relates to a traffic event around thevehicle; and the event information retained in the processing unit. 11.An on-vehicle communication system comprising: an extra-vehicularcommunication device installed on a vehicle; and an on-vehicle deviceconfigured to create correspondence information that indicates acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level, and transmits the created correspondence information tothe extra-vehicular communication device, wherein the extra-vehicularcommunication device receives data from an external device locatedoutside the vehicle, and creates, based on the received data,transmission source position information indicating a position of atransmission source of the data, and the extra-vehicular communicationdevice receives the correspondence information from the on-vehicledevice, sets a priority level for the data, on the basis of the receivedcorrespondence information and the created transmission source positioninformation, and processes the data in accordance with the set prioritylevel.
 12. A communication control method performed in anextra-vehicular communication device installed on a vehicle, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving data from an external device locatedoutside the vehicle; based on the received data, creating transmissionsource position information indicating a position of a transmissionsource of the data; acquiring correspondence information that indicatesa correspondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level; setting a priority level for the data, on the basis ofthe created transmission source position information and the acquiredcorrespondence information; and processing the data in accordance withthe set priority level.
 13. A communication control method performed inan on-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, the method comprising thesteps of: creating correspondence information indicating acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level, for transmission in an on-vehicle network, of datatransmitted by a device located in the peripheral area; and transmittingthe created correspondence information to an extra-vehicularcommunication device that is installed on the vehicle and iscommunicable with an external device located outside the vehicle.
 14. Acommunication control method performed in an on-vehicle communicationsystem including an extra-vehicular communication device installed on avehicle, and an on-vehicle device, the method comprising the steps of:creating, by the on-vehicle device, correspondence information thatindicates a correspondence relationship between peripheral positioninformation indicating a position of a peripheral area around thevehicle, and a priority level; transmitting, by the on-vehicle device,the created correspondence information to the extra-vehicularcommunication device; receiving, by the extra-vehicular communicationdevice, data from an external device located outside the vehicle;creating, by the extra-vehicular communication device, transmissionsource position information indicating a position of a transmissionsource of the received data on the basis of the data; receiving, by theextra-vehicular communication device, the correspondence informationfrom the on-vehicle device; setting, by the extra-vehicularcommunication device, a priority level for the data on the basis of thereceived correspondence information and the created transmission sourceposition information; and processing, by the extra-vehicularcommunication device, the data in accordance with the set prioritylevel.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing acomputer program used in an extra-vehicular communication deviceinstalled on a vehicle, the program causing a computer to function as: areception unit configured to receive data from an external devicelocated outside the vehicle; a position acquisition unit configured tocreate, based on the data received by the reception unit, transmissionsource position information indicating a position of a transmissionsource of the data; a correspondence information acquisition unitconfigured to acquire correspondence information that indicates acorrespondence relationship between peripheral position informationindicating a position of a peripheral area around the vehicle, and apriority level; a setting unit configured to set a priority level forthe data, on the basis of the transmission source position informationcreated by the position acquisition unit and the correspondenceinformation acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit;and a processing unit configured to process the data in accordance withthe priority level set by the setting unit.
 16. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium storing a computer program used in anon-vehicle device installed on a vehicle, the program causing a computerto function as: a processing unit configured to create correspondenceinformation that indicates a correspondence relationship betweenperipheral position information indicating a position of a peripheralarea around the vehicle, and a priority level; and a communication unitconfigured to transmit the correspondence information created by theprocessing unit to an extra-vehicular communication device that isinstalled on the vehicle and is communicable with an external devicelocated outside the vehicle.